Northern, Wisconsin Energy
Scrap Deal After FERC Ruling

Northern States Power Co. and Wisconsin Energy Corp. called off their planned merger, citing the unexpected regulatory complications they have encountered.

The two big Midwestern utilities, which have a combined market value of about $6 billion, scrapped the merger plan Friday evening, two days after the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission refused to approve it. The companies said they had spent $29 million apiece in the abortive...